Betsy

Overview

This cosy neighbourhood cafe-deli is making waves in Island Bay, offering comforting favourites with a contemporary twist. With the intention of bringing a city cafe level of good food, coffee and service to this seaside suburb, the girls at Betsy are really hitting the nail on the head.

With a background in hospitality, owner Jessica Donaldson always wanted to open a cafe of her own, and in May this year, that dream finally became a reality. Having started with the process late December of last year, every detail of the cafe was carefully thought out and you can clearly see that as you walk in the door. It's an inviting, relaxed space and you're greeted by friendly faces and upbeat music playing softly in the background. It's the perfect space to catch up with friends over a coffee and one of their delicious treats, all made on site.

The food is great, with a wide variety of options ranging from toasted sandwiches and freshly baked pies to fantastic vegetarian and vegan options like black bean and tofu tortillas. If you have a bit of a sweet tooth, you're in for a treat. The boysenberry cheesecake brownies are incredible and the chocolate chip banana bread loaf is served toasted — both will have you walking out on cloud nine.

We're all busy and often pressed for time, and at the end of a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is start cooking, right? Well Betsy has a solution on that front too. They offer an ever-changing menu of delicious seasonal home cooked meals, including meat, vegetarian and vegan options. Simply place your order on their Facebook page once you've seen what's on offer and they will keep meals aside for you to collect on your way home.

My favourite little quirk about this little cafe? Every Friday, the girls randomly choose a name and via a little blackboard sign placed outside, invite people with that name to come in and get a free coffee. This has become a huge hit with the local community, and you can imagine why.

Whether you're a local or driving in to spend the day, Betsy really is for everyone. Be sure to get there early if you're visiting on a Saturday — the treats sell fast.